The freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1886-18??, 1887-07-06
PROHIBITION CAMP
MEETINGS.
How 10 Make Them a Sue
cess. g.
Practical Suggestions from a Hacti-
cal Leader.


Prof. A. A. Hopkins, Manager of
the Prohibition Bureau, in a re-
cent letter written from Ashtabula,
Ohio, says:
"The Silver Lake Quartette has
begun another round which will
continue seven weeks, and takes US
into eight States. Five weeks of
this time We are controlled by the
Lever Lecture Bureau, at Chicago,
for series of camp and'other meet
ings inaugurated by Messrs. Van
Fleet and Sibley, in Illinois, Indi-
ana, Wisconsin and Michigan.
Most of these meetings hold three
DAYS each. The first day Gov. ST.
John aud Mr.. Nj. V. B. Bennett, of
Kansas, have swing on the second,
Col. Balm aud Sobieski share the
platform, and the Silver Lakere,
bringing up the rear, are. expected
to dispeisa the crowd in good hu-
NOR Such meetings in the West
may be experimental; in the East
they have been conducted several
years with great success. | do. not
know why they are not more wide
" undertaken. DR.. Brooks ran q
series in Missouri last su mmer, and
with profit to the cause, but the
task is no light one, and he might
we'll have shrank from repeating
it, even had i'll health not render
cd this impossible. Messrs. Van
Fleet and Sibley show great faith
and courage in like effort and
should receive the hearty co.opera-
ton of all Prohioitionists located
where they can cooperate. In
West Virginia and Maryland be.
ginning in this direction will be
made next month and quite like
ly another year will see camp
meetings established in all the
northern States, at all eligible
points, where will gather the zeal
GUS to get new inspiration, the in
different to become interested, and
many of the unfriendly to hear the
right ably advocated, the wrong
bravely condemned.
There ought to be a Temperance
Camp Meeting association organic
ed this year in every State in the
North, where camps are not already
planted, preparatory to next sea-
sons work. 1t should nave the
best headship our ranks can sup.
ply; its line of operation should be
carefully chosen; its plans should
be adopted after correspondence
with other State associations, and
in harmony with the National
Committees thought. The ablest
talent at command should be early
engaged, and under such plan o.
arrangements as to give the least
travel, and satisfy the widest field
Location should be selected with
consummate care, having in mine
everything essential to large sue
cess-ease of approach, comfort o.
occu patton, general attractiveness
surrounding resources, and the
near proximity of wise and patient
workers. Local management
should be determined with regard
to executive experience, personal
popularity and keen discretion
There should be rigid adherence tt
programme announced, and I'M
swerviag devotion to the Prohlbl
ton principle. While camn may
not be partisan, it should be firmly
opposed to compromise of any sor'
an educational power against Ii
cense devices and all political make
shifts. If our friends in the differ
ent States will take hint from
these hasty suggestions and move
forward, I will cheerfully lend any
assistance possible toward unifylne
effort, simplifying conditions ane
shaping practical plans. And
will venture to say for the nationa
executive that it will be in full &C
cord with every step taken in THU
direction, and will serve the wish
Of those States that most need such
work, to the full extent OF its re-
sources"